Choosing your flowers

A guide to choosing the right flowers

The beauty of flowers is that they're so versatile - it's hard to think of an occasion when they aren't an appropriate giftt and let's face it if your stuck for a gift idea flowers are always a reliable solution. The only problem is that for most of us the world of flowers can be a mysterious and daunting one, not everyone is blesed with a florist's expertise so knowing what to choose can be a bit of a challenge.

For those who don't necessarily fancy themselves as a budding Alan Titchmarsh don't be put off. Well chosen flowers really are a great way of expressing a whole range of sentiments from gratitude to congratulations to love. So have a look at the following tips and hopefully you'll feel a bit more confident about choosing the right flowers to say exactly what you want to say.

Romance - If your trying to woo someone or perhaps hoping to inject a bit of good old fashioned romance into your relationship or marriage, flowers are still one of the most effective ways. The obvious choice roses here are roses, the red rose in particular is still associated with love (it's traditionally symbolic of passionate love) more than any other flower and as such still makes a good, classic choice. For somethinga bit different though there are plenty of attractive alternatives - Lilies, Orchids, Daisies for instance, are all associated with conveying a message of love. 

Congratulations - Obviously you're looking to express something of the celebratory spirit here so consider going for bold, bright and contrasting colours that you feel really communicate a sense of fun and playfulness.

Thank You - One of the most common sentiments behind floral gifts - flowers are ideal for expressing gratitude. There aren't really any definitive rules here; the most important thing is that they convey a sense  of sincerity and perhaps feel like you've put some personal thought into your choice. A selection of flowers of your choice should be fine, Pink carnations are traditionally the floral symbol of gratitude.

I'm Sorry - There are few more consistenly effective ways of getting out of the dog house than with flowers, somehow a floral gift makes it almost impossible for anyone to hold a grudge for too much longer. Go for arrangements of delicate warm tones and put a bit of thought into an accompaying note.

Get Well - Flowers can convey a sense of deeply felt empathy so they make the perfect gift to let someone know your thinking of them, ultimately what flowers you choose wil come down to a personal decision but you could bare in mind a couple of possible approaches. You could go a couple of different routes here, either stick with something restrained and tastefully serene or why not go for a more positive, uplifting message with a bold, vibrant arrangement. Bare in mind that ultimately flower-buying is a personal choice.